Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02562336 2006-10-04
FILLING VALVE APPARATUS FOR
A BEVERAGE FILLING MACHINE
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent
application serial number 60/723,536 filed October 4, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a filling valve apparatus
for a beverage filling machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Filling valve apparatuses for beverage filling machines are known
in the art for injecting liquids into beverage containers. However, as the
filling valve
apparatus is used, certain parts of the filling valve apparatus may begin to
wear. For
instance, the liquid being injected into the beverage container with the
filling valve
apparatus may corrode certain parts of the filling valve apparatus. Once
corroded, those
parts of the filling valve apparatus must be replaced before the beverage
filling machine
may continue operating. Replacing the corroded parts of the filling valve
apparatus can
be difficult and time consuming since this often requires removing and
replacing the
entire filling valve apparatus, which takes considerable time. Also, the
beverage filling
machine typically incorporates many filling valve apparatuses, and replacing
one filling
valve apparatus requires stopping the entire beverage filling machine. When
filling large
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quantities of bottles each day, stopping the beverage filling machine to
replace the filling
valve apparatus reduces production and results in lost profits.
[0004] To solve this problem, the filling valve apparatus may include a
release mechanism that allows removal of a single part of the filling valve
apparatus.
Even though the beverage filling machine must still be stopped when the
component is
removed and replaced, the release mechanism reduces the downtime of the
beverage
filling machine. One such release mechanism is shown in U.S. Patent No.
4,893,733 (the
'733 patent). The '733 patent discloses the filling valve apparatus having an
upper
portion and a lower bell adjacent to the upper portion. A valve stem extends
through the
upper portion and the lower bell. A release mechanism is circumferentially
mounted to
the lower bell and includes a nut threadably mounted to a shank. The shank is
pivotally
mounted by a pin whereby loosening the nut permits the shank to be pivoted.
Once
loosened, the lower bell is released from the upper portion.
[0005] Although release mechanisms for filling valve apparatuses such as
the one disclosed by the '733 patent may allow removal of the lower bell when
corroded
by the liquid without having to change the entire filling valve apparatus,
there remains an
opportunity to improve upon the filling valve apparatuses and release
mechanisms of the
prior art. For instance, other parts of the filling valve apparatus may need
to be replaced
in addition to or in lieu of the lower bell. Therefore a filling valve
apparatus is needed
that either allows removal of other parts than the lower bell or includes
multiple release
mechanisms so that multiple parts of the filling valve apparatus may be
replaced without
replacing the entire filling valve apparatus. Additionally, a filling valve
apparatus is
needed that further reduces downtime when replacing the corroded parts of the
filling
valve apparatus to improve overall production of the beverage filling machine.
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Furthermore, a release mechanism is needed that allows the corroded parts of
the filling
valve apparatus to be removed more easily and quickly, such as with one hand
by an
operator of the beverage filling machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
[0006] The subject invention provides a filling valve apparatus for a
beverage filling machine. The filling valve apparatus includes a primary valve
portion
and a replacement valve portion coupled to the primary valve portion. The
filling valve
apparatus further includes a release mechanism slideably mounted to the
primary valve
portion. The release mechanism is selectively coupled to the primary valve
portion and
moveable between an engaged position securing the replacement valve portion to
the
primary valve portion and a disengaged position releasing the replacement
valve portion
from the primary valve portion.
[0007] Accordingly, the release mechanism being selectively coupled to
the primary valve portion and moveable between the engaged position and the
disengaged position allows the replacement valve portion to be quickly and
easily
removed from the filling valve apparatus and replaced. This helps to reduce
downtime
when operating the beverage filling machine. In addition, the release
mechanism may be
placed in various locations on the filling valve apparatus, allowing multiple
parts of the
filling valve apparatus to act as the primary valve portion and the
replacement valve
portion. Furthermore, the release mechanism of the subject invention allows
the parts of
the filling valve apparatus to be more easily removed.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the
following
detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying
drawings
wherein:
[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a filling valve apparatus used
with a beverage filling machine, the filling valve apparatus having a number
of release
mechanisms;
[0010] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the filling valve
apparatus of Figure 1 taken along the line 2-2;
[0011] Figure 3 is an assembly view of a valve body release mechanism
used with the filling valve apparatus of Figure 1;
[0012] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional top view of the valve body release
mechanism of Figure 3 in an engaged position;
[0013] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional top view of the valve body release
mechanism of Figure 3 in a disengaged position;
[0014] Figure 6 is an assembly view of a valve stem release mechanism
used with the filling valve apparatus of Figure 1;
[0015] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional top view of the valve stem release
mechanism of Figure 6 in a locked position;
[0016] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional top view of the valve stem release
mechanism of Figure 6 in an unlocked position;
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[0017] Figure 9 is an assembly view of a valve release mechanism used
with the filling valve apparatus of Figure 1;
[0018] Figure 10 is a side view of the valve release mechanism of Figure
9 in a secured position; and
[0019] Figure 11 is a side view of the valve release mechanism of Figure
9 in an unsecured position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate
corresponding parts throughout the several views, a filling valve apparatus is
shown
generally at reference numeral 20. Generally, the filling valve apparatus 20
is used with
a beverage filling machine (not shown). Beverage filling machines are known in
the art
for injecting a fluid into a container (not shown), such as injecting a
beverage into a
bottle or can. The beverage filling machine often uses many filling valve
apparatuses for
filling many containers simultaneously. Typically, a conveyor (not shown) is
used to
bring the container to the filling valve apparatus 20. The filling valve
apparatus 20 then
descends over the container and fills the container with the beverage. Once
filled, the
filling valve apparatus 20 lifts up and the conveyor moves the container away
from the
filling valve apparatus 20.
[0021] Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the filling valve apparatus 20
includes an upper portion 22 for mounting to the beverage filling machine. The
upper
portion 22 defines a fluid passage 24 that allows fluid to enter the filling
valve apparatus
20 from the beverage filling machine. A lower bell 26 is coupled to the upper
portion
22. Like the upper portion 22, the lower bell 26 further defines the fluid
passage 24 to
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allow the fluid to flow from the upper portion 22 into the container. When
operating, the
lower bell 26 either fits onto or extends over the container and the fluid
flows from the
lower bell 26 into the container. An adapter 28 is disposed atop the upper
portion 22 for
mounting to the beverage filling machine. The adapter 28 regulates air
pressure inside
the filling valve apparatus 20 such that the fluid only passes from the lower
bell 26 and
into the container when the pressure in the beverage filling machine is
greater than the
pressure in the bottle. A stem 30 is coupled to the adapter 28 and extends
through the
lower bell 26 and the upper portion 22. The stem 30 defines an air passage 32
that
allows air to vent from the container as the fluid flows into the container.
Generally, the
fluid does not flow from the container into the air passage 32. The adapter 28
then
changes the pressure in the bottle to stop the flow of the fluid from the
beverage filling
machine into the container.
[0022] The filling valve apparatus 20 includes at least one valve 34
coupled to the lower bell 26. Those skilled in the art realize that various
types of valves
may connect to the lower bell 26. For instance, a sniff valve (not shown) may
be
coupled to the lower bell 26 for releasing pressure inside the lower bell 26.
Alternatively, a clean in place (CIP) valve 36 may be used for cleaning the
fluid passage
24 defined by the lower bell 26 and the upper portion 22. In another
alternative, the
filling valve apparatus 20 may include both the sniff valve and the CIP valve
34.
[0023] As the fluid flows through the fluid passage 24 or through the
valve 34, various components of the filling valve apparatus 20 may begin to
corrode.
Therefore, the filling valve apparatus 20 includes at least one release
mechanism to
quickly replace corroded portions of the filling valve apparatus 20. Those
skilled in the
art realize that the filling valve apparatus 20 may include any or all of the
release
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mechanisms described herein. For instance, the filling valve apparatus 20 may
include a
valve body release mechanism 37 for releasing the lower bell 26 from the upper
portion
22, a valve stem release mechanism 39 for releasing the stem 30 from the
adapter 28,
and/or a valve release mechanism 41 for releasing the valve 34 from the lower
bell 26.
Each of these release mechanisms operate similarly. Generally, each of the
release
mechanisms couple a replacement valve portion to a primary valve portion of
the filling
valve apparatus 20. Specifically, the replacement valve portion is fixed to
the primary
valve portion with the release mechanism such that the replacement valve
portion may be
selectively removed from the primary valve portion with the release mechanism.
Preferably, the release mechanism is slideably mounted to the primary valve
portion,
thus selectively coupling the replacement valve portion to the primary valve
portion.
The release mechanism is moveable between an engaged position securing the
replacement valve portion to the primary valve portion and a disengaged
position
releasing the replacement valve portion from the primary valve portion.
Specifically, the
release mechanism slides along the primary valve portion from the engaged
position to
the disengaged position, and back to the engaged position.
[0024] The release mechanism described above may be used to release
various parts of the filling valve apparatus 20. In other words, different
components of
the filling valve apparatus 20 may act as the primary valve portion and the
replacement
valve portion. Furthermore, as discussed in greater detail below, a component
may act as
the primary valve portion in one embodiment and the replacement valve portion
in
another embodiment.
[0025] Referring now to Figures 1-5, in a first embodiment, the filling
valve apparatus 20 includes the valve body release mechanism 37 supported by
the upper
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portion 22 and slideably disposed between the engaged position for securing
the lower
bell 26 to the upper portion 22 and a disengaged position for releasing the
lower bell 26
from the upper portion 22. In this embodiment, the upper portion 22 is the
primary valve
portion and the lower bell 26 is the replacement valve portion. The valve body
release
mechanism 37 includes a locking handle 38 having a locking element 40 for
securing the
upper portion to the lower bell when in the engaged position. Generally, the
primary
valve portion defines an aperture 42 and the replacement valve portion defines
a
corresponding groove 44 for receiving the locking element 40 in the aperture
42 and the
groove 44 and supporting the release mechanism on the primary valve portion.
Therefore, in this embodiment, the upper portion defines the aperture 42 and
the lower
bell defines the groove 44. The locking element 40 is further defined as a
tooth 46
extending from the locking handle 38 through the aperture 42 and into the
groove 44 for
securing the replacement valve portion to the upper portion when in the
engaged
position.
[0026] The release mechanism further includes a release handle 48
coupled to the locking handle 38 for cooperating with the locking handle 38
during the
movement between the engaged position and the disengaged position. To connect
the
locking handle 38 to the release handle 48, the release mechanism further
includes a pair
of rails 50. The rails 50 extend between the locking handle 38 to the release
handle 48
and are held to the locking handle 38 and the release handle 48 with pins 52.
The rails
50 may have a round configuration when viewed in cross-section and define at
least one
notch 54. Also, as shown in Figure 3, the upper portion may define a pair of
openings 56
for receiving the rails 50.
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[0027] Referring again to Figures 1-5, the valve body release mechanism
37 further includes a biasing element 58 mounted to at least one of the
locking handle 38
and the release handle 48 for continuously biasing the locking element 40 into
the
aperture 42 and the corresponding groove 44. For instance, the biasing element
58 is
further defined as a spring 60 for biasing the release mechanism in the
engaged position.
Preferably, the spring 60 is a compression spring attached to the release
handle 48 for
biasing the locking element 40 in the engaged position. The release handle 48
defines a
cavity 62 for housing the biasing element 58 in the cavity 62 between the
upper portion
and the lower bell. In addition, the upper portion defines a pocket 64 and the
biasing
element 58 extends from the cavity 62 of the release handle 48 into the pocket
64 for
biasing the release mechanism in the engaged position. Here, the biasing
element 58 is
disposed in the cavity 62 between the release handle 48 and the upper portion.
[0028] Alternatively, the spring 60 may be a tension spring attached to
the locking handle 38 for biasing the locking element 40 into the aperture 42
and the
groove 44. Here, the locking handle 38 defines the cavity 62 for housing the
biasing
element 58 in the cavity 62 between the locking handle 38 and the upper
portion. As in
the previous example, the upper portion defines the pocket 64 and the biasing
element 58
extends from the cavity 62 of the locking handle 38 into the pocket 64 for
biasing the
valve body release mechanism in the engaged position. Here, the biasing
element 58 is
disposed in the cavity 62 between the locking handle 38 and the upper portion
22.
[0029] In operation, the valve body release mechanism 37 is biased in the
engaged position with the biasing element 58. Specifically, as shown in Figure
4, the
spring 60 biases the tooth 46 through the aperture 42 and into engagement with
the
groove 44. In order to release the lower bell 26 from the upper portion 22, a
force is
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applied to the release handle 48 toward the upper portion 22 to compress the
spring 60
placing the valve body release mechanism 37 in the disengaged position. Once
compressed far enough, as shown in Figure 5, the tooth 46 still extends
partially into the
aperture 42, but is no longer in engagement with the groove 44. Since the
tooth 46 is no
longer holding the lower bell 26 to the upper portion 22, the lower bell 26 is
released
relative to the upper portion 22.
[0030] Referring now to Figures 1, 2, and 6-8, in a second embodiment,
the valve stem release mechanism 39 is supported by the adapter 28 and
slideably
disposed between a locked position for securing the stem 30 to the adapter 28
and an
unlocked position for releasing the stem 30 from the adapter 28. In this
embodiment, the
adapter 28 is the primary valve portion and the stem 30 is the replacement
valve portion.
The valve body release mechanism 37 includes a locking handle 66 having a
locking
element 68, such as a tooth 70 as previously described, and a release handle
72 having a
biasing element 74, such as a spring 76 as previously described. In addition,
the adapter
28 defines a pocket 77 and the biasing element 74 extends from a cavity 79
defined by
the release handle 72 into the pocket 77 for biasing the valve stem release
mechanism 39
in the engaged position. Here, the biasing element 74 is disposed in the
cavity 79
between the release handle 72 and the adapter 28.
[0031] The valve stem release mechanism 39 further includes a pair of
rails 78 and the adapter 28 defines a slot 80. The rails 78 include
longitudinal tabs 81
slideably disposed in the slot 80 defined by the adapter 28. Here, the tabs 81
of the rails
78 rest in the slot 80 defined by the adapter 28 regardless of whether the
release
mechanism 38 is in the engaged or disengaged position. In this embodiment, the
rails 78
are integrally formed with the locking handle 66 and held to the release
handle 72 with
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pins 82. Here, the adapter 28 defines an aperture 84 and the stem 30 defines a
corresponding groove 86 as described in the previous embodiment.
[0032] In operation, the valve stem release mechanism 39 is biased in the
locked position with the spring 76. Specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the
spring 76
biases the tooth 70 through the aperture 84 and into engagement with the
groove 86. In
order to release the stem 30 from the adapter 28, a force is applied to the
release handle
72 toward the adapter 28 to compress the spring 76, placing the valve stem
release
mechanism 39 in the locked position. Once compressed far enough, as shown in
Figure
8, the tooth 70 is no longer in engagement with the groove 86. When not
engaged with
the groove152, the tooth 70 no longer holds the stem 30 to the adapter 28.
Since the
tooth 70 is no longer holding the stem 30 to the adapter 28, the stem 30 is
released
relative to the adapter 28 when the valve stem release mechanism 39 is in the
unlocked
position.
[0033] In a third embodiment, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 9-11, the
valve release mechanism 41 is supported by the lower bell 26 and slideably
disposed
between a secured position for securing the valve to the lower bell 26 and an
unsecured
position for releasing the valve from the lower bell 26. In this embodiment,
the lower
bell 26 is as the primary valve portion and the valve is as the replacement
valve portion.
Although the lower bell 26 was the replacement valve portion in the first
embodiment,
here, the lower bell 26 is the primary valve portion because it supports the
valve release
mechanism 41. Therefore, the lower bell 26 is the replacement portion in the
first
embodiment and the primary valve portion in this third embodiment.
[0034] Referring to Figures 9-11, the valve release mechanism 41
includes a locking handle 88 having a locking element 90. In this embodiment,
the
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locking element 90 is further defined as a tooth 92. As in the previous
embodiments, the
valve release mechanism 41 includes a release handle 94 that includes a
biasing element
96, which is a spring 98 as described above. The valve release mechanism 41
further
includes a pair of rails 100 each having the notch 102 described above. The
rails 100 are
integrally formed with the release handle 94 and held to the locking handle 88
with pins
104. Here, the lower bell 26 defines an aperture 106 and the valve defines a
corresponding groove 108 for receiving the tooth 92. Also, the lower bell 26
defines
openings 110 for receiving the rails 100. In addition, the lower bell 26
defines a pocket
112 and the biasing element 96 extends from a cavity 114 defined by the
release handle
94 into the pocket 112 for biasing the valve release mechanism 41 in the
engaged
position. Here, the biasing element 96 is disposed in the cavity 114 between
the release
handle 94 and the lower bell 26.
[0035] In operation, the valve release mechanism 41 is biased in the
engaged position with the biasing element 96. Specifically, as shown in Figure
10, the
spring 98 biases the tooth 92 through the aperture 106 and into engagement
with the
groove 108. In order to release the valve from the lower bell 26, a force is
applied to the
release handle 94 against the spring 98 to compress the spring 98, placing the
valve body
release mechanism 37 in the unsecured position. Once compressed far enough, as
shown
in Figure 11, the tooth 92 is no longer in engagement with the groove 108.
Since the
tooth 92 is no longer holding the valve 34 to the lower bell 26, the valve 34
is released
relative to the lower bell 26.
[0036] Accordingly, the subject invention provides a filling valve
apparatus 20 having at least one release mechanism being selectively coupled
to the
primary valve portion and moveable between the engaged position and the
disengaged
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position to allow the replacement valve portion to be quickly and easily
removed from
the filling valve apparatus 20 and replaced regardless of which parts of the
filling valve
apparatus 20 act as the primary valve portion and the replacement valve
portion 42. This
helps to reduce downtime when operating the beverage filling machine. In
addition, the
release mechanism may be placed in various locations on the filling valve
apparatus 20,
allowing multiple parts of the filling valve apparatus 20 to act as the
primary valve
portion and the replacement valve portion. Furthermore, the release mechanism
of the
subject invention allows the parts of the filling valve apparatus 20 to be
more easily
removed.
[0037] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it
is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be
in the
nature of words of description rather than of limitation. As is now apparent
to those
skilled in the art, many modifications and variations of the present invention
are possible
in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that
within the scope of
the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically
described
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